(OsiriumWrites) Death Smith - III - Chapter 2 (Acoustic communication)
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CHAPTER TWO Acoustic Communication
Two hours later
Base Camp, Norway
The ride to the base camp was uncomfortable for multiple reasons. With Ash and Lance in the back, the car was cramped, and Fergus kept looking over his shoulder with a worried expression, occasionally scratching the back of his bald head. The Norwegian driver was constantly checking the rearview mirror, as if he were seeing Rifters up close for the first time. The whole time, Ash never put away his axe, instead inspecting it and testing its grip. ‘I almost feel sorry for Fergus. His seat must be soaking wet at this point,’ Lance couldn’t help but think as he struggled to contain a small grin.
Lance spent his time studying the documents that Brian had given him, including passports, Rifter IDs, information sheets, and a small book to help him learn basic Norwegian. He struggled to make sense of it all, thanks to the additional letters the language used.
“That book isn’t going to do you much good, sir,” the youth said, glancing at Lance through the mirror. When Lance raised an eyebrow, the young man continued. “It’s teaching you Nynorsk, which is only used by ten percent of Norwegians. Norway has two languages: Bokmål and Nynorsk. You’re trying to learn the one that’s mostly spoken in the west, which is a long way from where we’re headed.”
Lance sighed and closed the book, throwing it onto Fergus’s lap. ‘Either that fixer is inherently incapable of doing things correctly or he just takes pleasure in causing me problems.’ “What’s your name?”
“Reidar, sir. Reidar Kristiansen,” the young man said with some concern in his voice, likely worried that he had offended the Rifters in the back with his comment.
“Thanks for pointing it out, Reidar.”
Shortly afterward, they stopped at the base camp, and Lance and Ash got out to stretch their legs. Despite having lowered his expectations due to the old cargo plane, the beat-up car, the fixer’s constant alcohol consumption, and the unreliable advice from the man, Lance was still disappointed by what he saw.
In front of him was an old motorhome that seemed older than he was. Behind it was a small storage trailer, and parked behind that was a truck with a cooling unit. Despite having witnessed the fixer’s cheap, greedy nature over the past few days, Lance was still disappointed.
‘The old biscuit factory in London looked better than this. At least it won’t spoil me,’ Lance thought as he opened the back of the truck and saw the bits of meat hanging on hooks and stored in boxes. It took him a few minutes to locate and open a hidden storage compartment. ‘I should be able to fit three or four regular-sized monsters in there. Or one larger one.’
Brian had come up with the idea of using a meat truck to store the monster corpses. This would allow Lance to keep them hidden while Fergus or one of his lackeys drove the truck to a location where they could be collected. This would keep Lance out of sight and away from the attention of the GRRO and other agencies. If he had the Inventory space, Lance knew he could fill several trucks with monster corpses, but he didn’t want the fixer to know this. He hoped that by making him believe each corpse was a rarity, he could temper the man’s greed.
As he closed the door of the truck, a high-pitched scream caught his attention. A young woman ran out of the motorhome and threw herself into Reidar’s arms, speaking rapidly in Norwegian. Just as Lance was about to ask who she was and what was wrong, he saw a confused Ash walking out of the motorhome, still carrying the steel axe. ‘Ah, that makes sense.’ Lance called Ash over and attempted to calm the situation.
“Ash, put the shotgun down. You’re frightening the children,” Lance said a few hours later as he watched Ash fire the last shot and then pick up the empty shells. The shotgun was a present from Lance to Ash for rescuing him in Dublin—one of the first things Lance had asked Brian to get for him. While it would enhance Ash’s combat potential in the next Rift, Lance had truly meant it as a gift.
Like Thomas, Ash had a fondness for movies featuring certain types of weapons, such as grenades, revolvers, and shotguns. “There’s still a lot of Thomas in him,” Lance thought as he watched Ash return to the camp, carefully checking to make sure the weapon’s safety was on before handing it over. “Did you have fun?” Lance asked as he stored the weapon in his Inventory and activated his Skill.
‘Repair Item’
[You have used Repair item Level 1. Reducing Stamina and Mana regeneration by 25% until completion]
The shotgun and ammunition were an exorbitantly expensive purchase, since Rifters rarely found guns within a Rift, and resources to make more ammunition were scarce. He had purchased thirty-two buckshot shells and eight slug shells in case Ash needed to take down a larger monster. Just these forty shells would’ve set him back nearly twenty thousand pounds, but luckily, Lance had persuaded Brian to purchase it in exchange for some goodwill and the prospect of getting more intact monster corpses.
In addition to the forty shells that Ash could take into a Rift, Lance had also ordered approximately five hundred rounds of regular shells that weren’t made from Rift material. He had figured that Ash needed some actual hands-on experience shooting the weapon without wasting thousands of pounds in expenses. The only downside was that Ash’s constant shooting wasn’t helping the atmosphere around camp. ‘Luckily, I can repair most of the damage Ash has done to the weapon. How many shells did he go through?’
In addition to the shotgun, Lance had also put in an order for a small pistol with two spare magazines. He was sure he’d be able to handle the lower-level Rifts without it, but he knew he needed more experience with guns as well, both to know how to use them and how to fight someone with one. It was expensive, but he wasn’t training so hard just to earn a living or to save up. He had an oath to uphold.
“Why doesn’t he speak? Is he mute?” Eirin Kristiansen asked after Ash had walked over to their bags to check their equipment one final time. Eirin was Reidar’s older sister by two years and had nearly had a heart attack a few hours ago when she woke up to see Ash standing above her with an axe in hand.
“No, he’s able to speak. He just chooses not to,” Lance explained as he heard Fergus and Reidar come closer, no doubt curious to learn more about Ash.
“Why not?” she asked carefully.
Lance smiled as he looked over at Ash, who was going over their gear as he had taught him. “Some people just like the silence,” Lance lied. It was only partly true. Ash wasn’t particularly talkative, but Lance had instructed him to keep to himself because the man’s communication skills still resembled a combination of a death metal band grunting and a demon from Hell. ‘Maybe someday he’ll sound normal enough not to frighten people.’
“I think it’s neat. A warrior doesn’t need words to fight!” Reidar said as he watched Ash from a distance, his eyes filled with awe and admiration.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Both Reidar and Eirin were in their early twenties and had bright blue eyes and blonde hair. From what Lance had learned, the two siblings frequently took on transportation jobs or helped tourists navigate Norway, being proficient in Norwegian, German, and English. Although this was their first time working with Rifters, Lance had found them to be reliable and competent, if a bit innocent.
In truth, they were a far cry from the “professionals” Brian had promised. It hadn’t taken much questioning before Fergus revealed that the fixer had found the siblings through an online advertisement. Despite this, they were being paid generously, and the fear of incurring the wrath of Rifters would likely foster a sense of loyalty.
Lance had made sure to eat and drink as much as possible when he arrived at the camp. With the next Rift a few hours away, he was confident that his body would be able to retain what he had taken in.
“Ash, gear up,” he called out as he left the others behind.
As they gathered their gear and checked their weapons, Ash and Lance prepared for the Rift. Lance had knives in sheaths on his belt, wrists, and boots, and a pistol in a holster on his upper right leg. He planned to wield Dieter’s old mace with both hands, knowing from experience how devastating it could be when heated with Mana. Ash could wield it as well, yet sadly the man lacked the ability to produce Mana, making the weapon less effective.
With his shotgun on his back and the steel axe and excavation tool in hand, Ash was ready to face the Rift. Both he and Lance were protected by steel and leather armor that could absorb many hits. Their backpacks were filled with food, water, and bone javelins, ensuring they were well-equipped for the journey. As Lance looked at Ash, he was reminded of the ambition he and Thomas had once had to become “true Rifters.” The memories brought forth a mixture of joy and shame.
“Reidar, start up the engine,” Lance instructed, nodding to the young man. He then turned to Eirin and said, “I want you to set up the base camp at the coordinates we discussed earlier. You have plenty of time, so don’t rush it.” Seconds later, Lance saw Reidar running toward the white Citroen, fumbling with the keys.
It took several hours to reach the Rift site. Lance knew he should have napped in the car, but he found the country’s rolling hills, dense forests, and intimidating mountains fascinating. Reidar had shared some information about the country, its people, and their approach to Rifts and Rifters. He told Lance that the country was over 30 percent larger than the UK but had only a few million citizens.
Lance was aware that Norway was not a member of the GRRO. Instead, the military was responsible for the security and monitoring of Rifts within the country. The government would offer contracts to Rifters to clear the Rifts, with the payment amount based on its difficulty level. Due to the size of the country and the scarcity of Rifters within it, there were often many foreign Rifters active in Norway. As Reidar drove slowly toward the Rift site, Lance thought to himself, ‘At least we won’t stand out as much.’
The military had installed a tall steel fence around the Rift and flattened the surrounding area, though it was not as protective as the nets used by the GRRO. Lance knew that the chance of a civilian being hurt by debris expelled from this Rift was astronomically low, given that it was in a remote location. ‘No doubt they would have more security measures in place if the Rift occurred within a city,’ Lance thought as he got out of the car with Ash and grabbed their gear. Two soldiers from the gatehouse approached them.
“You guys are here early,” one soldier with a thick Norwegian accent said. “What time will the others be arriving?”
“We like to be early,” Lance said, not knowing who the soldier was referring to. He figured it was probably a guild or party that had accepted the contract for the Rift and would be clearing it around this time. He handed the soldier two forged German Rifter IDs and waited for them to be checked. It didn’t take long before Lance saw the confusion on the soldier’s face. ‘No doubt our names aren’t on the list,’ he thought as he held out his hands to retrieve their IDs. Before the soldier could ask any questions, Lance was already moving toward the gate, projecting a confidence that was unlike him. “Last-minute changes. We got flown in a few hours ago. The rest of the team will be here shortly.” In the background, he could hear Reidar starting up the engine and driving away.
Lance made sure not to lie to the soldier. While there was no law in Norway that prohibited Rifters from clearing a Rift without a contract, it would be highly unusual and would likely irritate the guild or party that had claimed the job. Everything Lance had said so far was true: they had just arrived by plane and the rest of his team would be there. He had simply left out the minor detail that he kept the rest of his team in his Inventory.
“Mind getting us some coffee while we check out the Rift?” Lance asked as he walked past the confused soldier. He was glad his helmet concealed his nervous expression. He saw a few shipping containers nearby that held a small barracks, bathroom, and sleeping quarters for the soldiers, as well as private booths for Rifters to change and shower.
Lance did his best to appear relaxed. He pointed out a few things to Ash as they made a circle around the massive Rift, as if they were studying it. In the distance, he could see the soldier approaching them with two cups of coffee before the Rift itself blocked their view.
[You have retrieved an item]
“Are you ready?” Lance asked, his posture changing as he retrieved his mace. Ash nodded, equipped his axe and excavation tool, and stepped closer to the Rift.
“Yes.”
Lance gave Ash a fist bump before they calmly entered the Rift on their own. Seconds later, the soldier on Earth dropped two cups of coffee as the Level-Two Rift he had been guarding flared up and became unstable, indicating that the two Rifters had entered.
“Jeg er i så mye trøbbel!!”
Lance and Ash blinked into existence and stopped on the muddy ground, scanning their surroundings. The ground beneath them was like that outside the Rift, but a short distance away they saw a sudden change in terrain. As far as they could see, it was a dry landscape with rock formations and numerous small crevices.
“You alright?” Lance asked his companion as he held up his hand. Ash nodded, and he smiled back.
[You have retrieved an item 3x]
Three birds materialized and soared upward, gaining momentum and elevation. “Alpha, cover my six. Bravo, protect Ash. Icarus, have fun,” Lance said before moving toward Ash and lifting Ash’s helmet to reveal pale skin and gray hair. “Like I thought, the Rift burned away the makeup and hair dye. When you get out of the Rift, you’ll need to cover up again until I make you all pretty again,” Lance said teasingly before hearing Icarus call out to let them know monsters were approaching.
“Alright, we should be fine. They have the numbers, but we should be faster and stronger,” Lance said. He and Ash had researched this Rift and its monsters. Lance had chosen this Rift for three reasons: there were many weaker monsters, so he would gain a lot of black-shards; he had seen these monsters before, when Daniel had slaughtered them easily in their second Rift; and the considerable time difference between this Rift and Earth meant that Lance could spend extra time here training and healing without feeling like he was wasting time.
[You have retrieved an item]
“You get to pick this time,” Lance said as he handed Ash his smartphone and watched him browse through the music collection before choosing. Afterward, Ash tucked the phone under his armor to keep it safe.
“A guitar duet, really?” Lance asked. Ash merely shrugged before the first wave of monsters reached them. The fur-covered creatures hissed and snarled at them as they encircled Lance and Ash. Gnolls, Lance thought as he inspected the canine-like monsters.
Ash quickly killed the first one by throwing a crude bone javelin through its torso. Seconds later, another monster fell, though it did not die immediately. Determined not to be outdone by his brother in battle, Lance dropped his backpack and removed the javelins he had stored there, sticking them in the ground before throwing them one by one.
‘Detonate’
Unlike Ash, Lance’s javelins hit a Gnoll and exploded violently, and the bone shrapnel that flew out proved very effective itself at taking down more monsters. Although they looked emaciated and were relatively weak, they still had the numerical advantage over the Rifters. Lance was grateful to have the Detonation Skill at his disposal. He knew he and Ash could clear the Rift without it, but it would mean engaging with more monsters at close range and dealing with bruises and minor cuts afterward. Lance had studied the Skill extensively while recovering, but seeing it in combat was a unique experience.
[Detonate: Level 1]
[Cost per usage: -25 Mana per usage]
[Allows the user to detonate an Item within a few seconds]
[Level 1 detonates the Item, dishing out 50% damage of the Item’s durability]
While Lance was using the javelin and Detonation Skill to take out groups of monsters, Ash had switched to his axe and pickaxe, hacking through them in a whirlwind of blood and gore. He occasionally switched to his shotgun when a pocket of monsters lined up and he couldn’t control himself anymore. Any monster that tried to sneak up on Ash suddenly had a crow on its face, scratching and pecking until Ash could turn around and deal with the threat. Occasionally, a Gnoll would simply drop dead from a broken neck after something fast and gray dive-bombed into it from above.
Amidst the brutal battle and the screams of dying Gnolls, the cheerful sound of an acoustic guitar duet could be heard, setting the mood.
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Copyright: OsiriumWrites